Attorney General Ashley Moody Puts Biden Administration Through Spin Cycle, Demands Reconsideration of Washing Machine Rules

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading a 23-state coalition opposing the Biden administration’s new energy-efficiency standards for washing machines, which Moody says will drive up costs and reduce efficiency.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading a 23-state coalition opposing the Biden administration’s new energy efficiency standards for home washing machines.

The coalition, which includes Florida and 22 other states, argued that the regulations would impose undue economic burdens on American households and is calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) to withdraw the rule or subject it to a full notice and comment period.

“The Biden administration is bringing radical, stringent and costly energy policies directly to households,” Moody said in a prepared statement. “As a mother and your attorney general, I am proud to fight against this senseless policy.”

DOE recently issued a direct final rule that establishes new efficiency standards for washing machines. Moody and her colleagues say these standards will increase appliance costs and reduce product efficiency, negatively impacting middle-class consumers.

In a letter to the Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholmattorneys general cite concerns from industry stakeholders, including major appliance manufacturers and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). AHAM warns that the new standards “will eliminate consumer features, limit choice, significantly increase costs, and negatively impact product performance.”

AHAM member Whirlpool also highlighted the potential economic consequences. Their research indicates a 25 percent increase in consumer costs and a 31 percent decline in the industry’s net present value, which the company says could result in the loss of more than 8,000 American jobs.

The coalition further criticizes the rulemaking process, saying it relied on support from a small group of advocacy organizations and states while ignoring broader concerns. They argue that by law, DOE must consider opinions from a wide range of perspectives before finalizing such rules.

The letter calls on the DOE to reconsider the rule or allow for public comment to ensure an accurate assessment of its impact. The attorneys general say the current approach undermines the regulatory process and creates serious economic and practical challenges for consumers.

“This immediate final rule will affect the lives of nearly all Americans,” the letter reads. “Given the broad impact of this rule, DOE should provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the rule before it goes to people’s homes and to consider that comment meaningfully.”

The attorneys general of the following states also submitted letters to Moody: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.